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In the past few decades, more and more people have been diagnosed with ADHD, which is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Many of these diagnoses have been applied to children generally, but adults are also getting late diagnoses of ADHD. At the same time, there has been a lot of discussion around ADHD. Some people don't think that the illness is a disease as much as it is a difference between different kinds of thinkers and different kinds of people. Other people believe that ADHD is a serious disease and that people who have it should have full understanding of it and be medicated as a treatment.

Children diagnosed with ADHD will often have trouble sitting in their chairs during class periods. They will not be able to stay "on task" during easy and routine classroom activities. They have very active minds and bodies, and those little minds will get going quickly on any topic that interests them. Once this happens, they may become fixated on their area of interest and lose interest in everything else. But the main point is that they have a lot of trouble jumping through the routine hoops of life that everyone is expected to jump through. Because they disturb the class, they are often medicated so they can perform more like other children. These medications do often help some, but they can also have unintended and unpleasant physiological and psychological side effects.

We live in a very standardized world. Public classrooms operate in industrial settings similar to factories. Kids are supposed to tow the line, receive their rank, and go on to a job in a similar environment. Kids with ADHD are independent and creative thinkers, and they do not fit into the neat little boxes that others do. They often have higher than average intelligence, but they cannot test well.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, the best thing you can do for him or she is to assist them to get to know his or herself. Be patient when they express frustration. Provide lots of time at home in the evenings and on weekends for them to go off "into their own little world." This is how they will feel most relaxed and no amount of manipulation by anyone is going to change that. Sometimes having some more freedom at home can alleviate the pressure of being forced to conform in school. Watch your child's diet carefully. Avoid sugars, starches, processed foods, and fast food. Make sure they are getting clean meats and healthy fruits and vegetables. That can minimize hyper-activity. Talk therapy can help. And if all else fails, medication can help get them through the school years. As adults, they'll have to decide whether or not they want to continue on medication into college and beyond.